Category Archives: Inspiration

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The staff of Blush Bridal Boutique in Haymarket, VA is so excited to tell you about the launch of our brand new weekly event! Each week, we will be selecting five of our favorite wedding dresses to feature at a special $500 price point. The dresses are beautiful, current styles, and will be sold off the rack at a spectacular discount. Styles will change each week, so if you see a wedding gown you love in our featured collection, be sure to stop in before the end of the day on Saturday!

Here are the gowns we are featuring in our 5 at $500 collection this week. This collection includes traditionally flattering A-line styles, a glamorous mermaid, beaded sheath, a sophisticated fit and flare dress with sparkling accents, and a perfect for summer, light and flowy chiffon gown.

See your dream dress? Stop by our boutique in Haymarket today, or give us a call at 703-753-8303 if you have questions about our 5 at $500 promotion! We can’t wait to help you find your perfect wedding gown at an amazing price.

This year’s Oscars red carpet featured plenty of stars looking like they could have stepped out of their own wedding.

While dark colors are traditionally more popular on the red carpet, stylish celebs like Lady Gaga, Priyanka Chopra, and Olivia Wilde all chose dramatic white evening gowns.

So what can brides learn from these Hollywood divas?

A dramatic back is always a fabulous idea. Olivia Wilde showcased this trend, confidently sporting a Valentino Haute Couture gown featuring a backless design. This can certainly work for brides who wish to create a dramatic and unexpected look.

A sweetheart neckline and a simple classic hairstyle are always appropriate. Lady Gaga wore a strapless white Brandon Maxwell pantsuit with a perfect sweetheart neckline. She balanced out the daring choice with understated makeup and glamorous old school waves.

Everyone seems to love a flower crown. It’s one of the prettiest, easiest accessories to wear with your wedding dress, since it can stand alone as the sole accessory or it can be paired with a veil. Since there are so many different colors and types of flowers, the possibilities are obviously endless. Once reserved for bohemian brides, there’s now a flower crown look for everyone.

Here are some tips from Brides Magazine and The Knot.

To find a flower crown that’s quintessentially you, consider two factors: your personal style and the climate of your wedding. If you’re more of an ethereal type of bride getting married in the spring, try a wreath of tiny white flowers, maybe intertwined with small pearls — so subtle and delicate.

Those getting married in a tropical climate might want to consider a punchy crown; one in an array of bright, bold colors. (Then, tie it all together with a lipstick color that matches one of the flowers in your crown — perhaps a pop of red or pink.)

Even winter brides can wear flower crowns: a wreath with acorns and greenery paired with cashmere wraps and fur muffs will look so chic.

And one last thing: you don’t have to choose between a flower crown and a veil. They work so beautifully together! Secure your veil into the back of the flower crown. Not only will it give your veil extra staying power, but will help it ever-so-softly breeze down the aisle.

Have you been swooning over amazing dresses from designers like Berta and Galia Lahav, but lack the budget? Calla Blanche is a new line of runway-worthy bridal gowns that retail for $1500-3500.

Blush Bridal Boutique is launching this collection with a Calla Blanche Trunk Show November 27-29, 2015.

So what is the scoop on this new line? Based in Toronto, Canada, Calla Blanche is a premier wedding dress designer.

At Calla Blanche, designers take a fashion-forward approach to creating unique wedding dresses. Brides will not find the basic, traditional wedding dresses that look like a million other wedding dresses that they have seen before. Brides will instead find a dress that truly reflects her unique personality and looks fantastic as she says her vows.

The designers at Calla Blanche are not afraid to apply new and inventive elements to classic designs. This includes using bold colors, diverse textures, and numerous types of luxurious fabrics and textiles. Wedding photos will be exquisite with the help of Calla Blanche’s daring necklines, elaborate tops, and incredible silhouettes.

Calla Blanche creates wedding dresses that flatter many different body types. This includes A-line, ball gown, empire, sheath, and many other dress silhouettes.

Calla Blanche designs dresses and gowns that feature deep v necklines, elegant off-the-shoulder tops, intricately beaded bodices, skirts and trains that flow delicately away from a well-defined waistline, and many other unique dress features, allowing a bride find the dress that best suits her preferences and body type.

Call today to make your appointment to view this collection at our Calla Blanche Trunk Show November 27-29, 2015.

OK, I admit it. Ever since I was little, I have been obsessed with books and libraries… oh, and also weddings!

So when I saw the first Sex And The City movie, I was super-excited when Carrie brilliantly decided to host her wedding at the New York Public Library!

Though this movie came out years ago, the library wedding concept has quietly been gaining momentum.

Here are some fun ideas to help you to develop this trendy and intellectual theme.

1. Maybe booking an actual library as your venue is not an option. That’s OK- just do some (or all) of your engagement pictures surrounded by books! A classic library setting is ideal, but any type of bookshelf background can be just as effective.

2. Have you seen these library date-card inspired save the dates? For those who do not remember, these are modeled after the date cards that are in the little pocket in the backs of library books. This idea is simply brilliant! You could also style your actual invitations in this style if you wish.

3. Don’t be afraid to make books a part of your table centerpieces! Instead of just numbering your tables, you could also give each table a fun book title!

4. Create upscale bookmarks as your wedding favors.

5. Use a book motif for the groom’s cake to add another literary focal point.

6. Create a bookshelf “trellis” for your actual ceremony.

7. Prior to the wedding, have a book-themed shower. Register for books that you and your fiance would love to add to your library!

8. Use books as your thank you gifts to members of the wedding party.

9. Use classical literature as your inspiration for wedding vows, program text, toasts, etc. The possibilities here are as endless as the rows of bookshelves in a library!

Whether you love, love, love or totally avoid watching The Bachelorette each season, you must admit that the fashion and jewelry featured on the show are nothing less than inspirational. Of course, the amazing engagement rings presented to the suitors by famed jeweler Neil Lane make for a sparkling and breathtaking finale!

Photo credit: peoplestylewatch.com

This year’s winner/groom-to-be was Shawn Booth, who selected a stunning 3.5-carat diamond and platinum ring. Set with a central round, brilliant-cut diamond and surrounded by 160 smaller diamonds in an entwined band, the hand-crafted piece was a beautiful masterpiece. Of course, Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe was wowed by the ring and by Shawn and said yes!

Photo credit: peoplestylewatch.com

Obviously, not everyone can afford this exact ring, but we thought you would enjoy checking out the shape and style for your own engagement ring inspiration.

Brides and grooms planning an outdoor wedding tend to obsess over the weather. Perfectly blue skies and a bright sun equal the only acceptable scenario for this special day, right?

Not necessarily! The key is to be creative and to remain calm. Here are some ideas!

1. Be decisive: Do not agonize over what you’re going to do about the weather, or how you’re going to cope with the rain. Decide early on what you want to do if it’s raining and stick to the plan.

You want your ceremony outside? Have it outside and tell guests to bring umbrellas. If you would prefer to move the wedding indoors, go ahead with that plan. Don’t agonize over the decision, just do what will make you happy!

2. Trust your vendors: You hired professionals who are familiar with your venue, their specialty area, and the local weather. Trust them to do what they are good at. Some will even enjoy the challenge!

3. Be prepared: If rain is in the forecast, go buy matching umbrellas for your wedding party and some cute rain boots! Take advantage of some cute rainy day photo opportunities!

4. Appreciate the rain. There really are a few positives:

The color saturation in your photos is going to be beautiful in overcast or rainy weather.

There will be an amazing sense of bonding amongst your guests when they all have to endure the rainy weather together.

The rain will only make the happy couple shine even brighter.

Nobody will forget watching two people declare their love in the rain. Your day will be amazingly unforgettable!

Want to be fashion-forward, comfy, and charitable for your wedding? Check out our new TOMS’ wedding collection!

When you buy a pair of TOMS shoes you’re also helping improve the health, education and well-being of a child. TOMS was started in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie after witnessing the extreme poverty and health conditions in Argentina. He started the One for One initiative which makes the commitment to match every pair of TOMS shoes purchased with a new pair of shoes to a child in need.

In its first year, TOMS sold 10,000 pairs of shoes. They reached their one millionth pair of shoes in September 2010! TOMS now has a presence in over 50 countries and works with charitable partners who incorporate shoes into their health, education, hygiene and community development programs.

Although TOMS started with its popular flats offering, they have now expanded their collection to include more of a variety, including wedges and sunglasses. The TOMS wedding collection, now available at Blush Bridal Boutique, is stylish and casual with sizes that range from youth to adult. So even the flower girls and ring bearers can participate in your TOMS wedding!

TOMS offers different prints and styles. Bridal shoes include white, ivory, blue, silver and pink colors in canvas, crochet and glitter materials. Wondering what gift to get your wedding party? TOMS shoes make great wedding party gifts for your bridesmaids and will be worn long after the event is over!

This week, I was approached with a question that I thought was important enough to be addressed: What exactly should a dad wear to the wedding of his son or daughter? Seems simple enough to tell dads to dress up, but should they match the actual wedding party?

No! Dads are not to be dressed exactly like the groomsmen, as they are not technically members of the wedding party. The key here is to dress dads in keeping with the appropriate level of formality for the event. So if the groomsmen are in black tuxedos with green accessories, dads should wear tuxedos, but not the same one and not with the exact same accessories as the groomsmen.

The dads are also not required to match each other. So using the previous scenario (black tuxes and green vests and ties for the groomsmen), perhaps the father of the bride could wear a black tuxedo with black accessories and the father of the groom could wear a black tuxedo with silver-gray accessories to match his wife’s dress. The dads should wear styles that they love and that feel comfortable to them.

Their tuxedo jacket could be single or double breasted, and could have peaked, notched, or shawl lapels. Their accessories could be patterned or in a hue that coordinates with the gown their date selects. The important thing is that the dads are happy with their fashion choices.

Parents are traditionally the hosts of a wedding, or at least honored guests if the couple decides to host the event themselves. They should not be told what to wear specifically, but should always be given helpful guidelines (black tie, semi-formal, formal, ultra-formal, etc.).

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The Blushing Blog is written by the stylish girls at Blush Bridal Boutique. At Blush Bridal Boutique, our fashion consultants will provide you with a fun and memorable wedding gown shopping experience in an intimate yet comfortable setting. Are you a BLUSHing Bride? Make an appointment today to see for yourself why brides simply rave about Blush!